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CBJ Target Horton, Clarkson

Posted Jul 5, 2013
by Aaron Portzline
| 0 comments

The Blue Jackets are hoping to be big players today when NHL free agency dawns at noon. They have targeted two players -- Nathan Horton of the Boston Bruins and David Clarkson of the New Jersey Devils -- who are among the best players available.

Horton visited Columbus on Wednesday. (Actually, he may have spent a few days in Columbus, but only Wednesday with the Blue Jackets.) He is believed to be target No. 1, a power forward with two trips to the Stanley Cup Final on his resume. However, he won't be ready for training camp and possibly the first couple months of the season because he needs shoulder surgery.

Clarkson's visit to Columbus was reported this morning by TSN's Bob McKenzie. Neither the Blue Jackets nor Clarkson's agent, Pat Morris, would confirm the visit to The Dispatch, but McKenzie is the gold standard in NHL scoops. Believe it.

The Blue Jackets are intent on landing an impactful forward, be it Horton or Clarkson, but they won't come cheap. Both players will command six or more years and upwards of $6 million per season.

The Jackets have made it clear for months that they want to boost their offensive output. They were 25th in the NHL at 2.4 goals per games last season. But they clearly want to add size and strength, too.

Horton, 6-3, 230, is a Mack truck. He's not as physically reckless as he was earlier in his career -- two bad concussions will do that to a guy -- but he still takes up plenty of space and throws his weight around. He opted to leave Boston as a free agent to forge a "new beginning."

Clarkson is only 6-1, 200, but he plays a bigger game. He came into the NHL as a pugilist and as gradually developed into a cagey scorer around the net. He had 30 goals in 2011-12 and 15 in this abbreviated season. Toronto and Edmonton are believed to be strongly interested in Clarkson, too.

The sense from the Blue Jackets late last week is that they'd be looking to add one forward via free agency, and only one.

If Horton or Clarkson get the money expect, the Jackets will have less than $3 million remaining under the salary cap. If both of them go elsewhere, the Blue Jackets could aim lower on the free agency board -- Valtteri Filppula? Viktor Stralberg? -- and ostensibly sign more than one guy. But that seems unlikely.

Also, if the Blue Jackets sign a free agent, it likely means the end of Vinny Prospal's career with the Blue Jackets.

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